The Giants aren't ruling out a Johnson comeback, and the plan is for the 45-year-old lefty to begin tossing on flat ground during the upcoming homestand, perhaps in Arizona. With 38 games remaining in the season and perhaps more in the postseason, Johnson still could be a factor after slightly tearing his rotator cuff on a July 5 swing.

Sanchez missed his sixth straight game (10th of 23 since his trade) with a strained left shoulder and is doubtful for today. A DL stint would be retroactive to Tuesday. The second baseman last played last Monday at Citi Field.

Bochy said the DL is "coming into play as each day goes by. Again, that depends on progress he makes. He'd like to stay away from that, but it's definitely coming into play."

Faulty gun? By most accounts, Tim Lincecum's velocity was up from his previous start in Cincinnati, but you wouldn't know it by the Coors Field radar readings, which showed many of his fastballs in the high 80-mph range.

"Don't go by that radar gun," said Bochy, who wondered if there was some "gamesmanship going on" in an effort by the Rockies to get in Lincecum's head. Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenezwas clocked in the mid to high 90s.

"Whether they were messing with it or doing something with it, I don't feel I was throwing 88 to 90," Lincecum said. "I'll say this: They weren't putting 90-mph swings on the fastball."

Briefly: The Jason Giambi signing could be announced by the Rockies as early as today, and he'll report to Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he'll be a teammate of pitcher Russ Ortiz, who signed Sunday. ... Colorado's Carlos Gonzalezcould miss a week after cutting his left hand and requiring a stitch. He said he mishandled a steak knife Saturday night.